Methods For Assessing The Toxicity Of Sediment Associated Contaminants With Estuarine And Marine Amphipods PDF Download

Methods recommended by Environment Canada for performing 10-day tests for sediment toxicity, using one or more of the following species of marine or estuarine sediment-burrowing amphipods, are described in this report: Amphiporeia virginiana, Corophium colutator, Eohaustorius estuarius, Eohaustorius washingtonianus, Foxiphalus xiximeus, Leptocheirus pinguis, and Rhepoxynius abronius. The biological endpoint for the test is percent mortality at Day 10. Additional (sublethal) endpoints that measure the percentage of surviving amphipods that emerge from the sediment at Day 10 (i.e., avoidance response) and/or the ability of the amphipods to rebury when transferred to control sediment, can also be determined using this test. The test is performed in 1-L glass vessels, with 175 mL of solid-phase sediment and 759 mL of overlying seawater. General or universal conditions and procedures are outlined for preparing for and undertaking the test. Additional conditions and procedures are stipulated that are specific to the intended use of the test (e.g., assessment of samples of field-collected sediment, sludge or other solid waste, or chemical introduced to sediment). Included are: instructions on collecting, identifying, and transporting test organisms; sorting and handling procedures; holding and acclimatization conditions; sample transport and storage; test facility requirements; procedures for preparing test sediments and test initiation; specified test conditions; appropriate observations and measurements, endpoints, methods of calculation; the use of reference toxicants, and test validation.